Brick.



Patented Nov. 21,1899. A. GnAYsoN & w. J. sPnATLY.

BRICK.

(Application led June 12; 1899.)

(No Model.)

CM1] y co., Fumo-umn.. wAsMmcmN. n, c.

UNITED STATES PATENT OFFICE.

ALFRED GRAYSON AND WILLIAM JAMES SPRATLY, OF LONDON, ENGLAND.

BRICK.

SPECIFICATION forming part of Letters Patent No. 637,332, dated November 21, 1899. Application filed Tune 12,1899. Serial No. 720,253. (No model.)

To all whom t may oncern:

Be it known that we, ALFRED GEAYsoN and WILLIAM JAMES SPRATLY, subjects of the Queen of Great Britain, and residents of Hama mersmith, London, England, have invented certain neW and useful Improvements in Bricks, of Which the following is a full, clear, and exact specication.

This invention consists of a new or improved brick or frame for building and other purposes, the object being to provide a ready means for the insertion of Wood and other material into the brick or frame, so as to enable the desired object to be fixed thereto, and also insulate the material, such as Wood or inliammable matter, from the action or heating effect of a chimney in the event of the brick or frame being employed in this position.

For purposes of illustration We will now refer to the annexed drawings, in Which- Figure l is a plan View of an improved brick or frame; Fig. 2, cross-section through line X Y in Fig. l.

a is the frame, formed of metal, such as castiron, and it Will be seen that it is so shaped as to provide the chambers or inclosuresbb Z9.V

The top edge of the frame a, as shown at ein Fig. 2, is not so Wide as the bottom edge, as shown at f in Fig. 2, or, in other Words, the sides or parts of th'e frame are tapered. This tapering is for the purpose of locking or more securely holding the brick or frame in the cement or other suitable material when in position. The block of Wood or material is driven into the space marked d and is caused to be effectually retained therein through the action of the tapering Wedge-shaped projections c. These projections c are placed at the required part of the frame, and their action is to expand the material when being driven into this space d against the sides thereof from the top of the frame and so securely lock it therein. If this brick is placed, for instance, in the case of a chimney so that the side a is towardthe interior of the chimney it Will be seen that the required article will be fixed to the block which is driven into the space d, and this block will be insulated through the cement which Will enter the chambers or recesses b b b and prevent the action yof the heat which might arise from the inside of the chimney acting directly upon the block aforesaid. Of course the length and size of the pieces c Will be varied as required and the number increased, and these pieces c may be cast integral With the brick or frame or may be attached thereto in any convenient manner. y The principal feature of our invention is to ,dispense with the necessity of knocking a hole in the Wall and inserting a Wooden plug there-V in, as this is never secure, and also in the event of the plug projecting-for instance, in the case of a chimney, into the interior there= of-there is a danger of fire, Whereas by our invention when once the brick or frame car ryin g the block of Wood is inserted in position the block of Wood is insulated and cannot be withdrawn Without the removal of the brick or frame. This insertion may take place during the course of buildingif the parts in which the blocks are required are known.

Although we have mentioned cement for the purpose of iilling the recess or inclosures b, it will be readily understood that We may employ in place thereof a suitable lire-proof material.

Having thus described our invention, What We claim, and desire to secure by Letters Patent, is-

l. A frame for use as a brick consisting of suitable material as metal and composed of tapering Walls inclosing a dovetail-shaped space for the insertion of a block of Wood or other suitable material for the purpose set forth.

2. A frame for use as a brick consisting of suitable material as metal and composed of tapering Walls inclosing a space of dovetail shapefor the insertion of a block of Wood or other suitable material in combination With means secured to said walls for retaining said block in said space.

In testimony that We claim the foregoing We have hereunto set our hands this 25th day of May, 1899.

ALFRED GRAYSON. WILLIAM JAMES SPRATLY.

Witnesses:

JAMES FLEMING, BENJAMIN CLARK. 

